The Effect of Video See-Through HMD on Peripheral Visual Search Performance

Abstract

A video see-through head mounted display (VSHMD) has a digital camera set attached to the front of the HMD, which is a promising personal display device bringing a user into a realistic mixed world on demand. However, VSHMDs have an inherent risk of diminishing visual performance owing to the limited field of view (FOV) and poor display resolution etc. We investigated influences of VSHMD on the peripheral visual search performance of wearers. Nineteen participants performed a covert visual feature search task. All participants performed the tasks in four FOV conditions: 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° with three types of viewing devices including VSHMD. The results showed that the VSHMD deteriorated the user's peripheral visual search performance worse than the HMD, whereas no deterioration found in the FOV restriction or the low resolution of stimuli. This result implies that low display sharpness and additional video signal chain of VSHMD cameras may induce diminished peripheral visual perception. Designers should consider this effect when developing any augmented reality or mixed reality system. Such investigations will raise an important guideline for the practical usage of VSHMD and tele-operation.